School of Nursing Faculty and Staff

Kimberly Pharris is a Pedagogical Assistant Professor of Nursing at WKU. She received an associate degree in nursing from Owensboro Community & Technical College (2002), a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Kentucky Wesleyan College (1990), a Master of Science in Nursing Education from WKU (2016), and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with an emphasis in Healthcare Leadership from Chamberlain University (2020).

Dr. Pharris began her teaching career in 1990 prior to returning for a nursing degree in 1999. In 2017, after completing the MSN, she began teaching full-time at Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College (SKYCTC) where she served as Simulation Coordinator and as the Assistant Program Administrator for the Bowling Green campus. While at SKYCTC, she received the Faculty Award of Excellence for 2021. Dr. Pharris has developed a passion for simulation learning in nursing education and attained the Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) designation in 2023.

Prior to teaching nursing, Dr. Pharris worked in the area of Newborn/NICU/Pediatrics for an area hospital and clinic. She also worked in home health care, specifically caring for the pediatric patient population.

Dr. Pharris is the current president of Sigma Theta Tau/Kappa Theta Chapter and serves on the Board of Directors for the Kentucky League for Nursing.